Immediate Steps money funds Conway River biodiversity work

Work to remove weeds from the fairway of the Conway River to help maintain the river’s natural braided character has been undertaken thanks to support from Environment Canterbury’s Immediate Steps Programme.

The project was chosen for financial support by the Hurunui-Waiau Water Management Zone Committee, which represents the community interests.

Environment Canterbury’s Team Leader Biodiversity, Jo Abbott says maintaining the character of Canterbury’s unique braided rivers is internationally significant.

“While the majority of the world’s braided rivers have been heavily modified by human development, New Zealand is home to the majority of unmodified braided rivers in the southern hemisphere.

“Maintaining the natural character of these rivers and the unique ecosystems they exhibit is therefore internationally important.” says Jo Abbott.

The presence of weeds, including wattles and willows, in the active river bed can cause flooding and erosion problems for adjacent land as well as being detrimental to nesting sites of native birds.

“Removing these weeds to restore the braided river character that is so unique to New Zealand will also protect the area where more than 15 different species of birds, including the spotted shag, black-fronted tern, banded dotterel and black billed gull, nest.

“The islands and bars created by braided rivers provide important nesting sites which are protected from predators by the swift currents of the river that surrounds them so protecting their natural habitat is vital to their survival,” says Jo Abbott.

The Hurunui-Waiau Zone Committee selected the project to receive $12,000 from its pool of $100,000 to support Year 1 biodiversity projects in the zone.

A five year $10 million ‘Immediate Steps’ biodiversity protection and restoration programme was launched in 2010 as part of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy. Through Immediate Steps, a substantial $2 million each year is available for protecting and restoring biodiversity in and around freshwater habitats. Of this two thirds comes from Environment Canterbury rates and one third comes from land owner contributions.